Kinderhook Reformed Church Worship Service
Route 9 & Church Street, Kinderhook, NY
10:00 a.m. March 4, 2012
“To Know Christ and to Make Him Known”

Rev. Rudy Visser, Pastor

A WARM WELCOME TO VISITORS
You are invited to sign our Guest Book at the church entrance and to fill out a pew card and place it in the offering plate. We would like to get to know you better, and we invite you to enjoy fellowship and refreshments with us at Coffee Hour downstairs in the Fellowship Room following today’s Worship Service.

CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive) Based on Psalm 100
Come, people of God. Come all of you, rich and poor, young and old.
God is the Creator of all.
Come now and worship our generous and faithful God.
God calls us to life and to share in all of God’s abundance.
Come and worship and let us sing songs of joy and thanks.
We worship with our lives, with our hearts
and our voices and our actions.
*HYMN OF PRAISE #130 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
INVOCATION
CALL TO CONFESSION
God is merciful and gracious, with a steadfast love toward us that reaches as high as the heavens. Because of that love, God is slow to anger and always ready to forgive us. Let us confess our sins, knowing that God is eager to hear our heartfelt prayer of repentance.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)
Turning to you, O God, we confess that accounts of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion are all too familiar. We so easily lose touch with what your Son really did for us and take his sacrifice too lightly. We confess that we do not succeed in sharing Jesus' sorrow for our sin.
[Silent Prayer of Confession]
We also confess, O Lord,
that we so easily hang onto bitterness, hurt, anger and disappointment, rather than letting go in faith and trust, releasing ourselves to the healing and cleansing power of your Spirit. Forgive us for our willingness to settle for so much less than you desire to give us and to do in us. Restore us to right relationship with you and with one another, for the sake of your Son, our Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ. Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
“As far as the east is from the west, so far God removes our transgressions from us.” Friends, this is the message of the gospel. This is the Good News which we believe and proclaim: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Alleluia! Amen.
PRAISE SONGS We Will Glorify, I Love You Lord
CHILDREN’S PRAYER BLESSING (Unison)
Draw our children face-to-face with you, O Lord. May they feel your presence, and taste your goodness; may they experience your power to renew and strengthen them in times of need; and may they long for more of you each day of their lives. Amen.
We Come Before God’s Open Word
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Unison) Based on the hymn, Revive Us Again
We praise you, O God, for your beloved Son, the Lamb that was slain, who has borne all our sin and cleansed us. Send your Spirit of light upon us to rekindle our souls with fire from above; to show us anew our Savior; and to scatter our night. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSON Mark 7:24-37 (p. 713)
MESSAGE “Oh, That We May Be Open!”
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Celebrating God
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION (Insert)
WE GIVE OUR TITHES and OFFERINGS/OFFERTORY
Finale (Andante in D major) Felix Mendelssohn
From Organ Sonata No. VI, op. 65
*DOXOLOGY and OFFERTORY PRAYER – Ignatius of Loyola (Unison)
Gracious God, the generosity of your Spirit is evident all around us in the diversity and pageantry of your creation. May our giving to your mission and ministry be cheerful, open-handed, and gracious, as we give thanks for our blessings and recognize the needs of our neighbors, both near and around the world. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS CONCERNING THE FAMILY OF GOD
PASTORAL PRAYER
*HYMN OF PRAYER and READINESS #557 Open My Eyes, That I May See
*BENEDICTION BLESSING & RESPONSE – My Friends, May You Grow in Grace
My friends, may you grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
My friends, may you grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
To God be the glory, now and forever, now and forever, amen. (2x)
POSTLUDE Prelude and Fugue in d minor, op. 603/6 Carl Czerny

Today is Communion Sunday, which has been designated for the presentation of gifts, over and above regular giving, to the Benevolent Fund. Please support this important ministry which provides assistance to needy church family & community members.

PLEASE NOTE: CLOCKS "SPRING FORWARD ONE HOUR" AT 2. A.M. NEXT SATURDAY/SUNDAY NIGHT AS WE RETURN TO DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME AGAIN.

COMING SUNDAY, MARCH 25, TO KRC
“Heartsong”, Singers for Christ

Join us Sunday, March 25, at 4 PM for a country gospel concert featuring “Heartsong”. Going into their second decade, Heartsong singers for Christ has been sharing their love for their Heavenly Father through song to the body of Christ. Over 1000 churches large and small, of various denominations have personally experienced their compelling presentation of the gospel through exhortation. They are unique and energetic with a fresh progressive country sound peppered with contemporary. They have been able to blur the edges of country, southern gospel, and contemporary into a blend that is unmistakably Heartsong music. This distinct trio can take their harmonies and fashion innovative concepts and retool old traditional hymns as well. Heartsong’s territory has expanded from the northeast region to national notoriety. You can find them on TBN, The Praise the Lord Show, and other national TV and radio programs. They come as an excellent team of encouragement for any audience!

FRIDAYS AT 9:30 AM IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL, please join Dawn Tuttle, Jane Deane, and Joy Bertram for crafts we will be making for the KRC fair/bazaar which will take place November 3.

~EMMANUEL REFORMED CHURCH MOVIE NIGHT MARCH 10~
This coming Saturday, March 10, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Castleton will be showing the movie, Courageous, which has been highly acclaimed by viewing audiences. A Veggie Tales movie will also be shown during the same time to entertain the children present. Snacks and beverages will be provided, and the whole family is invited to attend this event. Emmanuel Reformed is located at 1150 Maple Hill Rd. and is handicapped accessible.

KRC SMALL GROUPS
KRC’s small groups, offered on Thursdays at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., will be beginning The Path to the Cross, led by Pastor Rudy. All are invited to join one of these groups, and walk-ins are always welcome! Jean Hacker will be leading a Stonecroft study, Why Believe?, Sundays following Worship.

~ECUMENICAL EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE~
At 6:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, April 8, the Stuyvesant Reformed Church will host a Sunrise Service to be held at the Allen homestead on Sharptown Road. Following the service, participants are invited to return to Stuyvesant Church for a continental breakfast.

Kinderhook Reformed Church has launched its Tricentennial Celebration! The 300th Anniversary Banner is now on display, and a photograph will be taken of the congregation in front of the church under the banner in the spring. AT LEAST ONE 300th BIRTHDAY EVENT IS BEING PLANNED FOR EACH MONTH OF 2012, AND EVERYONE’S HELP IS VERY MUCH NEEDED. WE ASK THAT YOU PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER HOW YOU MIGHT PARTICIPATE IN THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR MINISTRY TO OUR CONGREGATION AND COMMUNITY. Please pray that God will continue to bless our church family as we move forward into our year-long celebration, and that each activity carried out will further our mission to know Christ and make Him known. Contact Laura Rafferty, (518) 653-3994, with offers to assist in this ministry.

MANY THANKS AND BLESSINGS TO THE KRC FAMILY FOR THEIR GENEROSITY IN SUPPORT OF THE VALATIE FOOD PANTRY. The Pantry served 95 families in January, including 156 adults and 107 children. The Pantry is heavily over-stocked on spaghetti at this time, but other non-perishable foods that are always popular are evaporated milk; coffee; sugar; boxed cereals; pancake mix; syrup; jelly; canned meats, fruits, and vegetables; spaghetti sauce; mac & cheese; dinner helpers; apple sauce; juice; cake & brownie mixes. Donations may be placed in the collection containers available in the entryways of the church.

Remember to Pray for
• those who do not know Christ, have turned their back on God, or are struggling in their faith.
• KRC’s Consistory members and administrative ministries.
• KRC programs & projects and those implementing and administering them: Natural Church Development; church restoration; KRC’s 300th birthday events.
• leaders & those attending KRC’s Sunday School, Youth Group, new small group ministries, adult Bible study, Community Prayer Group, and New Members’ Class.
• our state and national leaders, that God will grant them the leadership skills, wisdom, and the personal protection needed to govern effectively and safely.
• our missionaries: Dave and Char Alexander, Perry Jones and Capital City Rescue Mission, Alex and Fran Knauss, Maureen Menard, Dick and Carolyn Otterness, Brian and Bea Post, Seth and Melissa Rogati, Betty Ann Stedwell.
• our children sponsored through Compassion or other agencies..
• those, especially children, victimized by famine, drought, and other natural disasters; abuses of war and violence; exploitation; neglect; and family hostility.
• families and friends grieving the loss of loved ones, especially: Sally Heimroth grieving the recent loss of her sister, Mary Anne Snyder; remember also Mary Ann's husband, Bill, and children.
• Dave Mooney, Maureen Mooney's husband, as he recovers from surgery this past Thursday.
• Jean Keegan, recovering at home following a recent stroke.
• Irene Smith, sister of Virginia Rothermel and sister-in-law of Jane Smith, in Whittier nursing home with cardiac issues as doctors attempt to adjust her medications.
• Ruth F. and Ruth C., both of whom need prayers for medical issues with which they are dealing.
• those dealing with cancer: Judy Iocco; Stephanie; Ron Jensen; Patricia’s mother; Donna Scalera; Emese; Joann Marvin; Rick; Matt; Tom Saulpaugh.
• those awaiting test results or surgery; recovering from surgery, injury, or illness; chronically ill; or in hospice care: Baby Brooklyn Faith Meyer; Joan Clause; Florence Rivera; Gordie Van Buren; Sue Jones; Ron Stockhoff; Ken Smith; Kathy Schneider’s father and Charles March, Sr. in Barnwell; Paul Varga.
• those facing challenges, conflicts, difficult decisions: the Schuberts, as they attempt to sell John’s mother’s home in Troy; Clayton, as he selects a college; Louise; Libby Little, facing a demanding schedule; those struggling with unnamed issues; caregivers of children with health/developmental issues; those with employment or other economic troubles; those suffering discouragement, depression, despair, or other mental health issues; those struggling with dependencies/substance abuse; those dealing with family relationships; young people challenged by the demands of schooling, looking for jobs, dealing with many temptations confronting young adults.
• God’s blessing on those recently engaged/married, expecting babies, new/first-time parents: Terry (Gaylord) Nawrot, expecting twins in July; Brad & Kelly Babic (Baby Taylor Marie), the Principis (Baby Gianna Drew).
• those caring for the elderly, displaced, disabled, or ill, especially Diane Morgan.
• our residence-bound members: Murray Leonardson and Mike Rivera.
• our military men and women, especially Courtney Hemmert; Will Ryan; Matt Plescia; and Spencer Moore - that they may know God’s presence and protection.
• families and friends of our military troops, and victims of warfare & violence worldwide, that they may be blessed with God’s peace and reassurance.
• the power of the peace & love of Christ to subdue everywhere the spirits of hatred, hostility, unforgiveness, cruelty, vengeance, and warfare.

There is a new update letter from Libby Little on the back table. All are invited to pick one up as a prayer reminder as Libby travels out again on her busy engagement schedule.

x
x
x
x
x

KRC’s share of support will be $6,456 in 2012 for services and resources to be provided for us by the Reformed Church in America at the local, regional, and national levels. EACH MEMBER’S SHARE OF CLASSIS ASSESSMENT FOR 2012 HAS BEEN SET AT $81.72, UP ONLY 87¢ FROM LAST YEAR! THIS AVERAGES OUT TO JUST $1.57 PER WEEK PER MEMBER. All who are able to do so are encouraged to offer, over and above their regular giving, their share of this support. The full share does not have to be given at one time, but may be given in as many increments as are convenient throughout the year. All contributions made for this purpose should be clearly designated, “Classis Assessment.” MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO DONATED over $4,000 THIS PAST YEAR TO HELP DEFRAY THIS ONGOING EXPENSE.

Remember To Thank & Praise God for
• all who serve KRC Ministries by meeting regularly, setting goals, preparing recommendations, & working together to complete projects and responsibilities.
• Pastor Rudy Visser, a Spirit-filled preacher of the Word and leader of vision.
• the blessing of family and friends.
• the wonderful ways God shows his love to us, especially during difficult times.
•
• those men and women who have served or are now serving our country, & those who have sacrificed their well-being and lives for the peace & liberties we enjoy.
• Ron and Kathy Binder, Wycliffe missionaries working in Panama who were
attacked and robbed recently by local gangsters. They are doing much better
now, and the prognosis is very positive for a full recovery for Luciano, their Wounaan friend, who was stabbed repeatedly trying to protect the Binders. Your prayers have been and still are very much appreciated.
• Richard Williams who has recovered nicely.
• Patricia Taliaferro, who is recovering well following a recent cardiac procedure
• Baby Grace Anderson, grandchild of Jane Deane, who has been battling a viral lung infection as well as an ear infection, is showing improvement. Tests have determined that there is no pneumonia, the viral lung infection is breaking up, and her temperature from this and the ear infection is dropping. Please continue your prayers for complete healing for Grace, who is recovering at home.

Regular reports are needed on the progress or condition of all individuals on our prayer and praise lists. If you have updated information, especially regarding individuals whose names appear in bold print, please call the church office.

Anyone not already on our email prayer chain who is interested in receiving Lenten devotions from time to time
or regular prayer and praise requests through email,
please contact Paul or the church office.